TOKYO, 9 March. /TASS/. Speaking about returning to negotiations between Russia and G7 countries in the format of G8 is too early as yet, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said following his talks with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

"With the current situation in Ukraine, conditions for that are not ready yet," Abe said.

"Japan is Germany’s important partner in the Asian region," Angela Merkel said after the talks. "We share common values and we cooperate closely, including on the problem of Ukraine."

Abe and Merkel during the meeting also agreed to develop cooperation between Tokyo and Berlin in fighting international terrorism and in the energy.

The prime minister said Japan and Germany are ready to continue work with Russia on the Ukrainian problem.

"We shall continue working with Russia on a diplomatic settlement of the conflict and will insist on constructive actions [from Moscow]," he said.

The German chancellor is in Japan on a two-day official visit. Merkel has delivered a lecture, during which she thanked japan for having introduced sanctions against Russia in relation to the Ukrainian events. "We are grateful to Japan," she said. "Nevertheless, we are interested in a diplomatic settlement of the conflict."